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Immigration - in brief (13)

01 May 2006

UK: Enforced removal to "safe" Zimbabwe: At the beginning of August the government got its way and won a court ruling that will see the enforced removal of Zimbabweans who sought sanctuary in the UK. It is thought that as many 9,000 people could be affected by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal ruling which said that their deportations were fair in principal and that those returned did not automatically face persecution upon their return. While Immigration Minister, Liam O'Brien, hailed the government's victory as defending a "fair and robust" asylum system, commentators pointed out that while the government had won a legal victory it had lost the argument. Tim Finch, of the Refugee Council, said: "We still think it's not safe to remove anybody to Zimbabwbe in the present circumstances. Ministers should exercise the principle of safety first." Independent 3.8.05.

UK: London Against Detention formed: Following a vigil outside Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre in January after the death of Bereket Yahannes, a 28-year old Eritrean man who was facing deportation and was found hanged there, a meeting took place to inaugurate the newly formed organisation London Against Detention. The meeting was attended by campaigning organisations such as Barbed Wire Britain, the National Coalition for Anti-Deportation Campaigns, No Borders London, student groups, volunteers and others concerned about the welfare and treatment in the UK of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. At the meeting, which took place in London during February, "it was decided that London Against Detention would build a sustainable and vigorous campaign for the closure of the detention centres in the London area by holding regular meetings, demonstrations, producing publications, holding fundraising events and street stalls. Contact will be made with other humanitarian organisations, including churches, student organisations, immigrant and asylum support groups, refugee centres and others." For more information contact Mrs Jacqueline Rigden, jackierigden@hotmail.com